The newly redesigned and renovated 62,500-square-foot Burnett Extended Care Center held its grand opening today, Oct. 1. The center is named after Celia Burnett, whose compassion for the health and well-being of others in the region inspired the creation of Burnett Sanitarium in the 1890s — the beginning of what would become Community Health System. 

Featuring 154 beds, Burnett Extended Care Center provides much-needed access to long- and short-term skilled nursing care in downtown Fresno. It also provides rehabilitative services to patients who are chronically ill or recuperating from an illness or surgery. 

Community invested $35.5 million in the facility, which will begin admitting patients later this fall.   

Providing continuity of care and access to clinicians 

The facility is conveniently located across the street from Community Regional Medical Center, offering patients continuity of care and easy access to clinicians at the hospital. Physical, occupational and speech rehabilitation units feature state-of-the-art equipment like:
 

• Simulators to provide a complete home-like environment (working kitchen, laundry, bathroom and a non-operational car) for comprehensive skill development in daily tasks that are crucial for patients to achieve independence and a safe at-home experience post-discharge 

• Solo Step sling-assisted walking equipment that promotes faster recovery in gait, balance and strengthening 

Burnett Care Center helps solve skilled nursing shortage problem  

 Due to a significant shortage of skilled nursing facilities in the area, about 60-80 patients a day are held in Community hospitals, unable to be transferred. Burnett Extended Care Center will help alleviate some of that strain by reducing the number of patients in our hospitals that do not need hospital-level care.  

“Having this so close to our downtown hospital not only provides necessary care and comfort for our patients but allows them to be discharged safely to an appropriate care environment,” said Cory Belliston, Community’s Chief Operating Officer, Post-Acute Services. “There is a shortage across our region for post-acute care beds, and this is a step to providing more access for those needing it.”